This walk, just over 5 miles, has a good variety of scenery including views looking down into Ryedale towards Rievaulx Abbey and glimpses of the Abbey through the trees. Early in the walk there are fields with cows and calves and a couple of broken stiles; these obstacles can be avoided by walking along a road and joining a farm track.  There is also a short length of poached up bridleway that may be muddy after rain. Park in Old Byland village near the green.

Start at the top end of Old Byland village just north of the village green (OS Map OL26 “North York Moors western area” reference SE 550859).  Park at this location or elsewhere in the village (e.g. at the bottom end of the village green).

The walk route

1.    From Old Byland village (map reference 550859), set off north, uphill, and turn right along the road to Rievaulx and Helmsley. 150 metres along this road, not far past farm buildings, cross the wall on the left by means of a ladder stile. [250 metres]. 

To avoid the cows and broken stiles, continue along the road for a further 600 metres then turn left onto a bridleway track for 500 metres, to reach point 4*.

2.    (551860)  Continue across grass fields (there may be cows with calves) to a wooden signpost at the far end of a field. [400m] 

3.    (551864)  Turn right and follow waymarks across several fields, climbing over a broken stile on the way.  After following the left boundary of a crop field, the path turns slightly to the right, then across a (damaged) stile and along the left edge of a grass field to a stile with a wooden signpost. [600m]  

4.    (557864)  Go over the stile and take the more solid, higher left-hand track ahead, rather than the one down into the valley. *If on the alternative route, follow the track round to the right keeping to the top of a valley side.  Follow this track, with views of the River Rye and Rievaulx Abbey, to a gate then through the gate and downhill to another gate, just above Tylas Farm. [1000m] 

5.    (565867)  Go through the gate and turn sharp right onto a tarmac track leading along the valley of the River Rye.  After 550 metres, where the track veers right uphill, turn left off the track through a gate onto a path across a rough grass field.  Continue to follow this path and over a boardwalk beside the river then across a field to a gate. [1400m]

6.    (568855)  Go through the gate, turn right onto a track (that comes from a bridge to the left) and then turn left on a footpath, following a wooden sign to Ashberry Farm.  Continue along a grass path near to a stream  then through a gate (or over stile) across a field where Rievaulx Abbey is visible through trees ahead and to the left.  Continue to follow the path that climbs in woodland (with glimpses of Rievaulx) then descends to a gate by a farm. [1400m]

7.    (571844)  Go through the gate beside Ashberry Farm, turn right along a road for 500 metres, passing a nature reserve entrance, to the point where a bridleway is signed to the left by a small metal post. [500m] 

8.    (568847)  Turn left off the road onto the bridleway (may be muddy in places) and continue for about 600 metres alongside a stream*.  The Public Right of Way then climbs the side of the valley to where a track meets the road; turn left onto the track and continue downhill to where the track (now concrete) crosses the stream then turn right. [1000m]

9.    (564854)  Follow the valley floor initially alongside the stream then follow the grassy valley floor for a long way, passing a track leading up the left side, later crossing the remains of a stone wall, to a point about 100 metres further on, where a path starts to ascend the valley side to the right. [1250m]

10.  (551857)  Take the path to the right and follow the narrow path through woodland to the top of the valley, turning right on emerging into a clearing, to a gate onto a road. [250m]

11.  (549858)  Turn right onto the road and follow the road round a bend to the left to the village green at Old Byland and continue to the parking place (ref 550859). [200m]